Businesses staging a post-Covid comeback

Gabriel Burgos-Nieves, general manager of The Black Sheep

By Angelea Preston and Jillian Kasmore

            Joe Tyson rushed to open the door to his barbershop, Tyson Cuts, with his young daughter in tow. He was running late for his first appointment of the day, a 9-year-old boy getting his annual back-to-school haircut. 

            “Hey Eric,” said Tyson as Eric plopped down in the chair. Tyson asked what kind of cut he wants, and after Eric told him the style he wanted, Tyson began cutting while speaking on how the pandemic affected his business. 

            “It was a slow climb to get back to normal, after the five months of being shut down,” Tyson said.

            Tyson opened his barber shop on 259 Carolina St. in June 2019.  Within a year, his business like many others across the state would be shut down multiple times due to the pandemic. 

            Uncertainty, fear, and doubt were heightened when COVID-19 hit in March 2020. Some small businesses on the West Side were grossly affected financially, while others benefitted from grants given by the government. 

            Ever-changing restrictions, the race to get as many people vaccinated as possible, and variants of the coronavirus have made an already difficult situation more perplexing. As businesses are still trying to navigate this new normal that doesn’t seem like it’s going anywhere anytime soon.

            For GabrielBurgos-Nieves, general manager of The Black Sheep Restaurant & Bar, 367 Connecticut St., food prices continue to go up due to a decrease in food availability. 

            “I don’t know the figures for sure but when we look at our local farms that we get our pigs from, we look at our chicken farms, we’re definitely seeing a shortage, and because of that we’re seeing a price increase,” Burgos-Nieves said.

            However, food shortages and price increases aren’t the only things the pandemic has changed. New York City became the first U.S city that required proof of COVID-19 vaccination for indoor dining. That’s something that has piqued the interest of Burgos-Nieves, and the owners of The Black Sheep. 

            “Right now, we’re kind of leaning towards requiring vaccination status,” Burgos-Nieves said.

            With the setbacks, there have been bright spots that have helped ease the storm. 

            In response to the pandemic, New York State administered an $800 small business recovery grant program.  According to Gov. KathyHochul’s office, more than $48 million has been given to 2,380 small businesses in the state.

            Tommy Mims, owner of Off The Beaten Path Tattoo Shop, 205 Grant St.,  worked in another shop as a private contractor for 10 years. He was then able to open his own shop during the pandemic. 

         “It was probably the best thing that could have happened for my business financially because all the money that was able to be given to business owners through the government helped me tremendously,” Mims said.

       For Joe Petri, owner of Gather and Game,  205 Grant St.,  said gaming sales have stayed steady. 

       “It’s a hobby people can do at home with family or roommates.  Even when quarantining has in some ways grown in popularity,” Petri said. 

Hiring not a problem for some businesses

    Small businesses on the West Side might be seeing hiring getting easier now that the $300 unemployment bonus has expired, one being the Lexington Co-Op, 807 Elmwood Ave.

            The co-op recently put hiring signs in its  windows and is having no problem getting applicants.  When the unemployment bonus was offered last year some of its employees took advantage of the extra cash and decided to leave their job. As of Sept. 5, the bonus was terminated and as a result Human Resource Denise Terrell has been scheduling multiple interviews a day.

            Terrell said the store is following the guidelines set by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention “to a tee,” Terrell said.   

            This means the store is not requiring the vaccine but is recommending it. All workers and customers must be always wearing a mask.  Social distancing is still encouraged, and the stickers are put in place at the checkout lines to make sure people are 6 feet apart.

            The co-op usually has no problem with finding employees. Terrell says this is due to how well the store treats its employees. The store offers an hourly wage of $17, health insurance, paid time off, staff discount and 401(K) Retirement Plans.

             “We look for candidates that have a sparkle,” Terell said. By Evan DiPasquale and Danielle Stieger

Webinar to promote co-op business model

By Rhiannon Browning

            In an ideal world, workplaces would not be unfair. Each person would be treated with respect along with equal pay. There wouldn’t be one boss who yells at their staff. Everyone would be the boss.

            Co-operation Buffalo has hopes for the city to hop on board with the Worker Co-op Jumpstart Webinar.

            “The webinar is about four hours long and is for anyone interested in starting a worker co-op or wanting to be a part of one,” Michael Heubusch said, a cooperative development specialist for Co-operation Buffalo.

            Heubusch said the event will dig into both the business aspect of a worker co-op, along with the value side of it.

            That includes anti oppressiveness and how to handle conflict in an emotionally mature way. This tends to be an issue in many businesses that aren’t co-ops because there is typically one owner and several staff members who feel that they have been underpaid or taken advantage of.

            With a co-op, everyone is an owner, which leads to a less competitive workplace, Heubusch said.

            “We just want folks to leave with a better understanding of what the current economic landscape is, how co-ops fit into that landscape, how to start one up and then how to maintain it,” Heubusch said.

            The non-profit organization, began in 2014 created by Andrew Delmonty, the program director. Heubusch and Delmonty were the only two full time employees at the time.

            Their mission? Providing guidance to beginner co-ops and financially helping businesses without the fear of paying back hefty loans.

            Co-operation Buffalo is a member of Seed Commons, a national network that provides non-extractive loan-funds to small businesses.

            According to Co-operation Buffalo’s website, a must pass through the following to be accountable:

-       Shift economic control to communities.

-       Democratize wealth and the workplace.

-       Advance ecological restoration.

-       Drive racial justice and social equity.

-       Relocalize most production and consumption.

-       Retain and restore cultures and traditions.

            At this time Co-operation Buffalo is still in the start-up phase, and a major project in the books.

            In 2017, the Rose Garden Early Childhood Center, 257 Lafayette Ave., used the help of Co-operation Buffalo and is now a fully functioning worker co-op. Theresa DiMuro-Wilber, a co-owner,  said that since becoming a worker co-op, the daycare has been based around fairness and guidance. She is grateful for Co-operation Buffalo.

            “Co-operation Buffalo helped us to create our new business model, shepherded us through changes to our decision-making processes which included giving all employees a voice, and stood by us through the entire transformation,” DiMuro-Wilber said.

           The Worker Co-op Jumpstart is scheduled from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. May 22.  The webinar is free.  

 

 

 

 

 

Tilth Farm preps for season of fresh produce

 
By Hannah Turnbull

            With spring fading and summer quickly approaching, it’s the time of the year where favorite fruits and vegetables make their return. West Side Tilth Farm is working extensively to deliver the freshest produce to the West Side community.

            The farm, 246 Normal Ave., provides naturally, organically grown produce using sustainable sources. The farm believes in using minimal technology, with most work being done by small hand- or battery-operated tools. Twenty-six solar panels have been installed to drive the power behind the farm. These solar panels help power the cooler, greenhouse fans, and charge the tools used in the field.

            West Side Tilth is committed to using organic growing practices for its produce. All soil is imported and placed atop a geotextile barrier, which prevents the migration of possible contaminants. Implementing techniques like crop rotation and protected culture mitigate the spread of disease.

            West Side Tilth Farm grows everything from carrots to tulips. Everything is grown according to the season, as well as being fertilized naturally, owner Carrie Nader said.  

            West Side Tilth has sought to make fresh produce more accessible to the city. The farm works with local businesses to sell its products. Businesses like Shop Craft, Wild Things, Marble and Rye, Butter Block, and The Farm Shop all sell produce from West Side Tilth.

            Shelley Isaacs from The Farm Shop, 235 Lexington Ave., said there is a mutually beneficial relationship between them and West Side Tilth Farm.

            “They’re great. We support each other, even on social media,” Isaacs said.

            The Farm Shop sells nearly all of West Side Tilth’s produce. Right now, onions, tulips, and lettuce are popular.

The farm has been providing fresh produce to the West Side since 2017. They are known for their annual farmers market held in the summer season. The farmers market will be open this summer from July to November. The market will be open every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  where West Side Tilth and other local vendors will be selling products. West Side Tilth will be selling its produce and handmade pizzas. The pizzas are made with a slow-fermented crust and topped with the farm’s very own vegetables.

Despite preparing for a busy summer season, Nader acknowledges that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the farm.

            “The hardest part was not knowing what to expect. It was a lot of ‘what if’ planning.” Nader said.

            Last year’s farmers market was cancelled due to social distancing concerns.

West Side Tilth is a unique farm aside from its sustainable sourcing. The farm accepts payment from those apart of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, and Farmers Market Nutrition Checks. These are both national programs that have been established to help people afford fresh, healthy food.

            “It’s great to have fresh produce in any urban environment. They’re giving these people access to healthy food.” Isaacs said.

            Though the farm is not open to the public, West Side Tilth hosts several special events throughout the year.  

 

           

 

           

 

 

             

Salons manage under pandemic restrictions

   By Liberty Darr 

            Salons up and down Elmwood Avenue are continuing to embrace the changes being made in the wake of a global pandemic, all while trying to maintain some amount of normalcy. Getting your hair done is an experience that not only brightens your day, but it also offers a safe place to let go of the stresses that plague our everyday life. As places around the country have begun to open their doors for service again, salons have been forced to operate much differently than ever before seen but nonetheless still with the same charm and relaxation tactics that were so loved before the global pandemic.

            At Studio 806 on 806 Elmwood Ave., plastic barriers separate stations and a limited number of customers are allowed in at a time. Stylist Sierra Manne, who has been with the salon for two years, said that recovering from the second shutdown was the hardest part of this year.

            “I lost a lot of my clientele after the second shut down. People are simply too scared to even still get their hair done. There is only so much I can do to creatively build my clientele back up, it all depends on if people feel safe or not,” she said.

            Studio 806 joined salons across the state in taking a number of precautions in order to maintain cleanliness and protect their clientele in order to make sure that people feel safe, but still for some, even that is not enough.

            Salon owner  Sally Lococo from Kallista For Hair on 721 Elmwood Ave. said returning to normalcy is a dream that she is looking forward to everyday while at the salon.

            “I am looking forward to getting back to normal, especially having a normal amount of people in the salon. We have taken a pretty big hit since we only take one person at a time. It is also difficult when people come on to wear a mask, because it’s hard to tell exactly what someone is going to look like with a new hairstyle,” she said.

            For most salon professionals, doing hair is a very personal experience, and the lack of interaction has become increasingly more difficult.

            For eyelash technician Bella Formanski at Studio 806, she shares empathy with the stylists as her experience is very similar. 

            “When I do people’s eyelash extensions, it’s only us in the room so it is pretty cautionary. Formanski said. “But it also is very isolating as I am not used to it being like that. While people are wearing masks, it’s important that they stay above the nose even throughout the entire eyelash extension process which can sometimes be difficult. But, the hardest part, like I said before, is the isolation.”

            Salon professionals have spent the better part of this year trying to recover from major losses in income as well as a loss of consistent clientele.

            The increase in people getting vaccinated has been the saving hope for many salon professionals, as they begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel after a hard and trying year.

 

 

 

 

 

West Side farms gearing up for market season

 

By Shania Santiago

            With the spring season rolling through, the farming season has already started taking off. West Side farmers are busy at work to make their preparations for the approaching 2021 season.

            5 Loaves Farm, 70 W. Delevan Ave., is just one of the farms that have already kicked off. The farm is recognized for its commitment to producing healthy foods for neighborhood residents.

          The farm’s preparation for this year can be traced back to this past winter when it began to produce its greens. Manager of 5 Loaves Farm Matt Kauffman said the harvest has begun and the farms greens can be purchases at the Massachusets Avenue market or Chandler Street market.

            Last year, Kauffman noticed an increased amount of interest in the farm’s produce from the public in comparison to previous years.

            “There was a lot of interest from our customers, from our community, and local food production,” Kauffman said.

            Kauffman hopes that the farm is able to keep the momentum going for this year’s season.

            WestSide Tilth, 246 Normal Ave., is another farm that has started preparing for the upcoming farming season. Carrie Nader, operator of WestSide Tilth farm, believes it is super important for people to know where their food is coming from.

            “It’s such an amazing opportunity to do this right in the middle of a neighborhood,” Nader said.

            Kale, collards, and onions are a few of the things already being planted in the farm’s greenhouses. After only being able to have a small farm stand last year, WestSide Tilth is currently looking to get a farmers market going for this year.

            “We’re going to invite a few other vendors on Saturdays, when we’re open,” Nader said.

            The farmers market will be open from July through November this year.

            Pizzas with homemade dough and fresh vegetable toppings, that are grown right out of the farm, will also be making a comeback after not being available last year. This time around the pizzas will be offered two days a week instead of one.

            With the COVID-19 pandemic breaking out last year, there was a lot of uncertainty for Westside Tilth, Nader said. Looking back, she believes the farm could have done a lot more. 

            “Last season we scaled back just because we didn’t know what things were going to look like, what people were going to be allowed to do or what was going to be safe,” Nader said.

            Nader is looking forward to being able to move on from last year’s farming season.  She hopes that people are starting to feel more comfortable and safer for 2021.

            “I’m really excited to have some sort of sense of normalcy back,” Nader said.

Big Big Table plans imminent opening

 By Hannah Turnbull

            If you ask Mandy Bailey who will be welcome at Big Big Table, her answer is simple.

            “Everybody with a capital ‘E’” she said.

            Bailey is the co-founder and head chef of Big Big Table, a budding community café located at 272 Hudson St. The café is in its final stages of development and plans to open its doors for business soon.

Big Big Table, 272 Hudson St.

            Big Big Table will serve as a pay-as-you-can lunchtime restaurant open to all.  Its mission is to feed delicious and nutritious food to everybody, regardless of ability to pay.

People can pay full or partial price for their meal, based on what they are able to. Big Big Table provides other ways of payments for those unable to make a monetary contribution, such as helping out at the café by clearing tables or assisting in the kitchen.  

Hunger and food insecurity is a growing problem across the nation. Bailey hopes Big Big Table can bring a sense of relief to the West Side while also providing a sense of community.

“We just want to feed everybody. Everyone will be welcome here,” Bailey said.

Big Big Table was set to open in the spring of this year, but production was halted last year due to the pandemic. In the past few months, the work has resumed thanks to volunteers and assistance from the global organization, One WorldEverybody Eats.

Big Big Table is a member of One World Everybody Eats, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing food security across the world. One World Everybody Eats developed the pay-what-you-can model that Big Big Table has adopted.

One World Everybody Eats supports nearly 50 independent that tackle food insecurity and build community in their areas. The organization provides the resources and networking for these community cafés to open.

“We provide shared knowledge that allows these cafés and communities to open quicker” Julie Williams, board president of One World Everybody Eats said.

Williams believes that each café the organization opens n is as unique as the community it serves. And Bailey sees the West Side as quite a unique place.

“It’s a super diverse area. We’re at the intersection of anyone and everyone,” Bailey said.

While Big Big Table prepares to open, Bailey has organized an event to promote the first community café in the city. May the Fork Be With You will be  a sidewalk event that will be located outside of the restaurant on May 14. Information about the café and its opening will be discussed, giving the community a chance to meet the volunteers.

On March 30, the team at Big Big Table installed their outdoor railing, showing progress on the final stages of development.

“We are going to open as soon as possible,” Bailey said.

She has a clear vision for what the opening of Big Big Table will look like.

“It will be totally inclusive, and everyone will be having a great time,” Bailey said. 

Updates will be posted on Big Big Table's social media. 

Garden Walk Buffalo to return in-person

 

Kaleidoscope by Miriam Kelley

By Rhiannon Browning             

          Garden Walk Buffalo is coming out of a virtual hiatus this summer and is scheduled to be in-person on July 24 and 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.

            GardenWalk Buffalo is one of multiple events hosted by Gardens Buffalo Niagara. It has been known to bring in thousands of visitors from all over the country and even Canada. The gardens for the walk are scattered all over the West Side. Maps where gardens can be located will be provided.

        The pandemic caused Garden Walk Buffalo to go virtual last year with live streaming, online tours and educational videos. Marketing director of GardensBuffalo Niagara Jim Charlier said that he and his team had to decide very early on last year whether they were going to host the event.

            “We came to the conclusion that it wasn’t possible to be in-person last year as far as the Garden Walk goes, but we still did host our annual Open Gardens,” Charlier said.

            As opposed to the Garden Walk, which is completely free of admission and anyone can submit their garden as part of the walk, Open Gardens is a ticketed event with select gardens throughout western New York.

            “Open Gardens includes Erie and Niagara Counties and features urban, suburban and rural gardens,” said gardener Dennis Martinez, who participates in both events.  “It takes place during the entire month of July on designated days and times, some afternoons and some evenings.”

            Martinez said that he noticed an increase in Open Gardens visitors last year since the Garden Walk was virtual. He said that the pandemic didn’t affect his garden and describes it as “a great place to read a book with a glass of wine, or two.”

            Gardens Buffalo Niagara hosts numerous events along with the other two. East Side Garden Walk, Urban Farm Day and an art show are a few events it plans on holding this year. Charlier said that there is talk of having a butterfly launch, but it depends on how well everything runs this summer.

            “We’ve had a lot of time to experiment with these events last year and I think if we just keep doing what we’re doing, this year should be a lot of fun,” Charlier said.

            For 27 years, Garden Walk Buffalo has provided many local gardeners with opportunities to show off their hard work. Miriam Kelley has been a participant since 2003 and said that she used the pandemic as a way to add on to her already unique garden.

            “I made a hanging succulent basket and I designed and built a Garden Kaleidoscope for the front yard that people will be able to actually use,” Kelley said. “I also acquired a small cement buffalo that will have a place of honor in my front yard.”

            Kelley said one year she and her daughter counted around 1,000 visitors in her backyard on Dorchester Road, which is also a concern for Charlier.

            “A lot of our gardens have one entrance that also acts as an exit. We just hope our gardeners feel safe enough this year to allow visitors to come through and anticipate having to control the quantity,” Charlier said.

            The Garden Walk is going to have mask and social distancing regulations this year, but Kelley and Martinez still anticipate a good outcome. Between just the two gardeners, visitors can expect a water garden in an old rusty cauldron, gnomes, Buddhas, Buddha gnomes and an oasis with ponds, fountains and green landscapes.

            Any gardener on the West Side willing to share their work has a deadline of May 15 to submit with “no site visits, no judging, no entry fees, nothin’,” according to the Gardens Buffalo Niagara website.